Athletes persist in their efforts following a challenging contest in basketball

Germany's basketball team secured their place in the European Championship quarterfinals with a hard-fought victory against Portugal, winning 85-58. However, the game was not without its challenges for the World Cup champions.

Initially, Germany struggled to gel together following a lineup change, with their game appearing tense. The team trailed at halftime for the first time in the tournament, with the score standing at 31-32. Germany's coach, Alex Mumbru, returned to the sidelines for the first time during the EM, having missed the group stage due to illness.

Despite the rocky start, Germany managed to turn the game around by the end of the first quarter, leading 17-12. The team's brilliance from the group stage was not immediately apparent, and they struggled to find a rhythm from beyond the arc, making only one of 18 three-point attempts in the first half.

The final quarter of the game caused some stress for the World Cup winner, with the score remaining close. Maodo Lo sank the second German three-pointer late in the third quarter, but Germany only led by a single point going into the final quarter (52-51). The last ten minutes of the Quarterfinals game remained a tough battle.

However, Germany's significantly higher quality prevailed in the final quarter, securing their victory. Captain Dennis Schröder delivered the win for the team, and he also addressed the team on the court. Schröder commented that the team has a very deep bench, and everyone who played contributed to the win.

Head coach Alan Ibrahimagic also recognized a challenging game against Portugal. Mumbru appeared recovered and drew the first play on his tactics board before the game. Despite the team's struggles, Mumbru said at halftime that they missed many good shots, causing nervousness and tension.

The victory sets up a quarterfinals match against Slovenia for Germany. Slovenia will feature NBA superstar Luka Doncic, making for a challenging game. Germany will look to build on their performance and regain the form that saw them top their group in the European Championship.